JUNCTION CITY, Ore. – A local father was arrested on multiple charges, including driving under the influence, after he was found driving erratically with two young children in his vehicle on the night of February 14, according to court documents filed in Lane County Circuit Court.
The incident began just before midnight when 911 callers reported a white SUV swerving along River Road. Officers quickly responded to the scene and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle, driven by 34-year-old Jose Montes Contreras, was found to contain both his wife and their two small children, ages eight months and two-and-a-half years.
Upon approaching the vehicle, an officer noted visible signs of intoxication, including vomit inside the car. Montes Contreras told police that he was heading home to Veneta. Despite showing signs of impairment, the father refused to submit to any field sobriety tests. He was subsequently taken into custody, and a blood test was conducted three hours later at the jail by an EMT.
Authorities waited until March to file charges as they awaited the results of the blood test. The delay was due to the need for a search warrant to legally obtain Montes Contreras’s blood sample for analysis. On March 11, court records show that Montes Contreras was officially charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, and two counts of reckless endangerment.
The arrest has raised concerns over the safety of children in vehicles driven by impaired individuals. Authorities emphasized the risks posed by drunk driving, particularly when young children are involved. Montes Contreras now faces serious legal consequences for endangering the lives of his family members.
